Richard G Bonner

US Patent:

7135541, Nov 14, 2006

Filed:

Jun 6, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/456309

Inventors:

Bruce Roger DeBruin - Kingsport TN, US
Richard Gill Bonner - Kingsport TN, US

Assignee:

Eastman Chemical Company - Kingsport TN

International Classification:

C08G 63/00

US Classification:

528272, 422131, 422135, 524 81, 526 64, 526 65, 526 67, 528271

Abstract:

There are disclosed polyester processes using a pipe reactor and corresponding apparatuses. In particular, there are disclosed processes and corresponding apparatuses including an esterification pipe reactor operated in an upflow or downflow mode, especially in a regime including stratified flow.

US Patent:

7179881, Feb 20, 2007

Filed:

Sep 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/666415

Inventors:

Richard Gill Bonner - Kingsport TN, US
A Bob Debenport - Columbia SC, US

Assignee:

Eastman Chemical Company - Kingsport TN

International Classification:

C08G 63/02

US Classification:

528272, 264 9, 264 14, 422131, 528271

Abstract:

Considerable energy savings may be realized by recovering heat from hot PET pellets exiting a solid state polymerization reactor, and using this heat to heat cool pellets entering the crystallizer or solid state polymerization reactor. The heat may be transferred from hot to cool pellets employing a heat exchanger.

US Patent:

7204945, Apr 17, 2007

Filed:

Sep 16, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/663856

Inventors:

Richard Gill Bonner - Kingsport TN, US

Assignee:

Eastman Chemical Company - Kingsport TN

International Classification:

B29C 67/00

US Classification:

264143, 264 5, 264 12

Abstract:

Strands of molten polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from a PET polycondensation reactor are solidified, pelletized, and cooled only to a temperature in the range of 50 C. to a temperature near the polymer Tg by contact with water. The still hot pellets are conveyed, optionally followed by drying to remove water, to a PET crystallizer. By avoiding cooling the amorphous pellets to room temperature with water and cool air, significant savings of energy are realized.

US Patent:

7217782, May 15, 2007

Filed:

Oct 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/696880

Inventors:

Richard Gill Bonner - Kingsport TN, US
A Bob Debenport - Columbia SC, US

Assignee:

Eastman Chemical Company - Kingsport TN

International Classification:

C08F 6/00

US Classification:

528499, 525437, 525439, 525486, 525503, 528271, 528272, 528298, 528308

Abstract:

Energy savings are realized during the commercial production of polyethylene terephthalate by partially cooling polyethylene terephthalate pellets exiting a solid stating reactor by contact with water, and using the residual heat stored in the pellets to vaporize associated water to form dry pellets.

US Patent:

7332548, Feb 19, 2008

Filed:

Mar 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/793384

Inventors:

Alan Wayne White - Kingsport TN, US
Michael Paul Ekart - Kingsport TN, US
Larry Cates Windes - Kingsport TN, US
Richard Gill Bonner - Kingsport TN, US
Alan George Wonders - Kingsport TN, US

Assignee:

Eastman Chemical Company - Kingsport TN

International Classification:

C08G 63/02

US Classification:

525437, 528272, 528274, 528297

Abstract:

A process to produce polyester product from alkylene oxide and carboxylic acid. More specifically this process relates to a process to produce polyethylene terephthalate where terephthalic acid and ethylene oxide are reacted to form a partially esterified terephthalic acid product and then the partially esterified product is further reacted with ethylene glycol to produce polyethylene terephthalate.

US Patent:

7358322, Apr 15, 2008

Filed:

Mar 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/796238

Inventors:

Mary Therese Jernigan - Kingsport TN, US
Michael Paul Ekart - Kinsport TN, US
Richard Gill Bonner - Kingsport TN, US

Assignee:

Eastman Chemical Company - Kingsport TN

International Classification:

G08G 63/00

US Classification:

528271, 4284111, 502150, 524 86, 524424, 525437, 528272, 528285, 528298, 528302, 528308, 5283086, 528481

Abstract:

A melt phase process for making a polyester polymer melt phase product by adding an antimony containing catalyst to the melt phase, polycondensing the melt containing said catalyst in the melt phase until the It. V. of the melt reaches at least 0. 75 dL/g. Polyester polymer melt phase pellets containing antimony residues and having an It. V. of at least 0. 75 dL/g are obtained without solid state polymerization. The polyester polymer pellets containing antimony residues and having an It. V. of at least 0. 70 dL/g obtained without increasing the molecular weight of the melt phase product by solid state polymerization are fed to an extruder, melted to produce a molten polyester polymer, and extruded through a die to form shaped articles. The melt phase products and articles made thereby have low b* color and/or high L* brightness, and the reaction time to make the melt phase products is short.

US Patent:

7368522, May 6, 2008

Filed:

Feb 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/361655

Inventors:

Mary Therese Jernigan - Kingsport TN, US
Michael Paul Ekart - Kingsport TN, US
Richard Gill Bonner - Kingsport TN, US

Assignee:

Eastman Chemical Company - Kingsport TN

International Classification:

C08G 63/02
C08G 63/127

US Classification:

528271, 528285, 528308, 5283086, 524 86, 524424, 502150

Abstract:

A melt phase process for making a polyester polymer melt phase product by adding an antimony containing catalyst to the melt phase, polycondensing the melt containing said catalyst in the melt phase until the It. V. of the melt reaches at least 0. 75 dL/g. Polyester polymer melt phase pellets containing antimony residues and having an It. V. of at least 0. 75 dL/g are obtained without solid state polymerization. The polyester polymer pellets containing antimony residues and having an It. V. of at least 0. 70 dL/g obtained without increasing the molecular weight of the melt phase product by solid state polymerization are fed to an extruder, melted to produce a molten polyester polymer, and extruded through a die to form shaped articles. The melt phase products and articles made thereby have low b* color and/or high L* brightness, and the reaction time to make the melt phase products is short.

US Patent:

7501482, Mar 10, 2009

Filed:

May 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/439777

Inventors:

Bruce Roger DeBruin - Lexington SC, US
Richard Gill Bonner - Lexington SC, US

Assignee:

Eastman Chemical Company - Kingsport TN

International Classification:

C08F 6/00
C08F 3/00

US Classification:

5283081, 2641761, 264219, 528480

Abstract:

A method of crystallizing polymeric pellets includes a step in which a plurality of polymeric pellets are introduced into a crystallizer. While within the crystallizer, the plurality of pellets is contacted with a plurality of solid additives for the purpose of adjusting the average pellet temperature. The plurality of solid additives adjusts the temperature of the pellets by having a temperature sufficient to allow at least partial crystallization of the plurality of polymeric pellets while maintaining the average pellet temperature below the melting temperature. Finally, the plurality of polymer pellets is removed from the outlet of the crystallizer.